Naval Hospital Bremerton Sailor Earns Nuclear Security Warfare Pin

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital Bremerton's (NHB) Security department recognized one of their own on April 19 for achieving a unique warfare designation.

NHB's Master-at-Arms 1st Class Michael Haberstumpf was officially pinned with his Nuclear Weapons Security (NWS) warfare designator pin by Security Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, Chief Master-at-Arms (SW) Michael Therkildsen.

With NHB Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Culp, Executive Officer Capt. Maureen Pennington, Command Master Chief (SS/SW) Douglas George and many of the command staff and drilling Navy Reservist force in attendance, Therkildsen spoke of Haberstumpf's commitment to the NWS program when it was in its infancy at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bangor and what it has become now.

"This pin was developed as an incentive to encourage Sailors to take an assignment at ... weapons facilities," said Therkildsen. "It was a new program then, and it's a testament to Haberstumpf's leadership and dependability to rise above his junior status. It's an additional note to point out that he was of only a handful of Navy personnel there at the time."

According to the Naval Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN) 1220-061, to earn the elusive NWS warfare pin, Navy Security personnel must be certified in the Personal Reliability Program (PRP) period for 12 months and qualified in their senior post or watch station within their pay grade. Haberstumpf said he remembered his time at the facility was both challenging and at times very stressful.

"I remember the rotation was six hours on, six hours off for weeks at a time," said Haberstumpf. "It's grown to feature more Navy people now than it was previously. The Navy now offers incentives for these billets. I highly recommend it for people looking to set themselves apart in the competitive rating that is Master-at-Arms."

Other incentives for those who take orders to a SWF are $75 monthly special duty assignment pay, accelerated advancement to E-3 for junior sailors and sea duty credit for a shore duty job.

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For more news from Naval Hospital Bremerton, visit www.navy.mil/local/nhb/.